Bioavailable Curcumin Ingredients Compete In New Study

In a new study comparing bioavailable curcumin ingredients, OmniActive Technologies’ (Morristown, NJ) new CurcuWin ingredient came out on top. Published in Nutrition Journal,  the study compared CurcuWin to other bioavailable curcumin ingredients-curcumin in a lipophilic carrier and curcuminoids combined with volatile oils of the turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome-as well as unformulated, standard curcumin.

Curcumin delivered in a lipophilic matrix, and curcuminoids combined with volatile oils of the turmeric rhizome, have both been shown to improve curcuminoid absorption. By contrast, CurcuWin’s bioavailability is said to come from the ingredient’s combination of turmeric extract, a hydrophilic carrier, cellulosic derivatives, and natural antioxidants.

The randomized, double-blind, crossover study tested 12 human subjects. The study took place in four separate trials, with one-week washout periods. In each trial, subjects ingested a single, 376-mg dose of a different curcumin form. Researchers then measured blood plasma levels for increases in curcuminoid levels(curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin) and the curcumin metabolite tetrahydrocurcumin.

Unsurprisingly, CurcuWin outperformed standard curcumin’s bioavailability by a milestone-up to a 46-times increase of curcuminoid presence in the blood-but it also beat out the other two bioavailable forms. CurcuWin caused a 5.8-times increase in blood curcuminoids than the lipophilic-matrix curcumin, and a 34.9-times increase compared to the curcumin/volatile oils version.

CurcuWin’s superior bioavailability may be due to the ingredient’s water-soluble nature, the researchers said. CurcuWin is made water-soluble by dispersing curcumin and antioxidants (tocopherol and ascorbyl palmitate) on a water-soluble carrier such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone, they explained. The technology is OmniActive’s patented UltraSol molecular dispersion system, which can enhance the solubility and bioavailability of a range of lipophilic compounds and poorly absorbed nutrients.

CurcuWin also surpassed the other ingredients in terms of tetrahydrocurcumin increase. Tetrahydrocurcumin is “the most potent antioxidant of the curcuminoids measured in this study,” and CurcuWin ingestion caused the highest blood presence of tetrahydrocurcumin, the researchers said.

This study is unique because it tested bioavailable curcumin ingredients against each other, said OmniActive in a press release. The company helped fund the study.